Drew Fickett wins, Rick Roufus TKO'd at PFP event in Canada

UFC veteran Drew Fickett (36-8) made an efficient showing this past weekend and picked up just his second victory in his past five fights with a first-round submission win over Jason MacKay (8-2) via triangle choke.

However, famed kickboxing legend Rick Roufus (4-5) didn’t fare as well during a first-round TKO loss to Ryan Jimmo (9-1).

The two fights took place at the Nov. 29 Phoenix Fight Promotions card at the Dartmouth Sportsplex in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Fickett, fighting for the third time in an eight-week span, used dominant ground and pound to set up the submission victory. The blows eventually prompted MacKay to give up his back, and Fickett easily locked in the fight-ending choke.

After beginning his career with eight consecutive victories, MacKay has now posted back-to-back losses.

Meanwhile, Roufus, who took the fight on just a few days’ notice in place of injured Carmelo Marrero, was quickly put on his back and pounded out at 2:24 of the first round. Jimmo, who was knocked out in the first round of “The Ultimate Fighter 8″ by Antwain Britt, has now won nine consecutive pro fights.

Prior to the fight, Roufus, a 41-year-old kickboxing legend who went 57-7 with six world titles during a storied career, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that his ground game is a work in progress.

“It’s just going to take some time,” Roufus said. “These guys have been wrestling since they were in high school. I mean, a guy defends single leg, double leg like nothing. For me, that’s something totally new.”

Roufus, who turned an MMA pro earlier this year with Strikeforce, closes out his rookie season with a 4-5 record and three losses in his past four fights.

In the night’s main event, popular Canadian fighter T.J. Grant (13-2) picked up his seventh victory in eight fights — all via submission — with a third-round arm-bar of Beau Baker (4-1), who took replaced “TUF” alumnus Richie Hightower on just two days’ notice.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.